Semtech Corporation, a leading supplier of analog and mixed-signal semiconductors, along with two partners, Mueller Systems and Senet, will launch a low-power, wide-area network in Ventura County to wirelessly track groundwater pumping data from the Fox Canyon aquifer, which sources water to most of the region. The Fox Canyon Groundwater Management Agency board voted unanimously to approve the proposed project, which will streamline the existing data collection process and provide a more cost-efficient model for the county. The LoRa®-based wide-area network (LoRaWAN™) will be fully implemented for testing by October 2015.

“We are excited to launch this network in Ventura County, especially, because this is home to our corporate headquarters,” said Mohan Maheswaran, CEO of Semtech. “By providing sustainable and efficient infrastructure, we hope to support California’s water conservation goals. We want to create a data collection platform that can be easily implemented in counties throughout the state.”

The new smart metering system should significantly reduce costs associated with the county’s data collection process, which currently relies on groundwater users to report the data themselves. Sensors will attach to the existing meters and automatically report data to regulators through the LoRa network.

Hassan Ali, vice president and general manager of Mueller Systems, said:

“We are proud to be participating in this partnership and look forward to expanding our LoRaWAN network in Southern California,” said George Dannecker, CEO of Senet. “The application of LoRaWAN is a perfect fit to optimize operations for critical water management systems.”

Semtech, Mueller Systems and Senet are all members of the LoRa Alliance, a collaborative group of Internet of Things (IoT) industry influencers that aim to standardize low-power, wide-area networks globally.

Highlights:

Reduced Cost. By incorporating the sensors into existing meters, the team eliminates the need for individual smart meter installation, creating an attractive system for government agencies.